Friday, April 30, 2010
Bed Problem
We have a new sleeping problem here at our house and it involves Paige. Up until now she has been a really good sleeper. She slept well when she was a baby and started sleeping through the night fairly soon. I love that about her! Since she has turned "2" she isn't doing as well. One day I thought maybe she was big enough to sleep in a bed instead of a crib. So I changed her crib into a toddler bed and she played on it all day. When it came to nighttime, she would not stay in it. So I waited until she fell asleep and then put her in the bed. A few hours later I heard her bedroom door open (this is about midnight) and in she walks and climbs into our bed. Being the person that I am (and Matt as well) we let her sleep there. Both waking up with aches and pains. We don't want that to happen again. I was thinking it would take 3 nights for her to get used to the new situation. Well after the 2nd night being like the first I gave up and put the rail back on the crib and she slept in the crib the entire night the 3rd night. So maybe she isn't ready for a bed. Well that was about 3 weeks ago. She has slept good since, almost all night every night and I think that is great. Well a few days ago, in the middle of the night I once again heard her door open and wondered what was going on. In she walks and climbs into our bed. That little stinker climbed out of her crib!!!! How did she do that? Matt and I were both in shock! The next day during the day I was in her room and put her in the crib and said, "show me how you get out." She proceeded to throw her leg over the rail and then pull her other leg over until she touched the mattress from the other side. Then she dropped the last foot onto the ground. I couldn't believe it!! She can get out with hurting herself and she isn't afraid to do it in the pitch black of the night. So what do I do about this?? I DO NOT like her in our bed, we just got Parker out of there for Pete's sake, I DO NOT want another kid in there during the night. How do I get her to stay in there all night and not climb out? Anyone, please help!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Zoo Time
On the 17th my mom decided it would be fun to take the kids to the zoo. So we loaded everything up and made our way there. As we got there is started raining a little bit and neither my mom or I had brought jackets (what were we thinking?) Luckily I had jackets in the car for the kids and I happened to have a hooded sweatchirt in their too. So we decided we would wrap the kids in blankets and jackets and hope the weather would soon cooperate. Then is started really raining and I (having no coat or sweater) decided that maybe we should come back another day. Well Parker did not like that idea at all, so we decided to stay and within about 10 minutes the rain had stopped and we were in line to get into the zoo. It warmed up and the kids had a great time seeing the animals that were out. There were a lot of animals that were still being kept inside until it warmed up, so there were things that we didn't get to see. There were even some new baby animals to look at a baby zebra, and I think a baby goat. The kids really liked looking at them. We walked around for about and hour and took a few pictures and decided that we had seen it all. We will have to go back later this summer when all the animals are out to see. I know the kids would love to go again!
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
This recipe is from Jessica Seinfled's book Deceptively Delicious. It is a book teaching how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into kids food without them knowing. This is one of my favorite recipes and is soooooo good. The bread is very moist and my kids gobble it right up. I don't feel bad about them eating a lot of it because it is low in sugar and has all the whole grain in it. Give it a try!! I love to be a little sneaky and to put things into the food I cook to give it a little more nutrition. Well I found these two cookbooks that teach how to do just that the one by Jessica Seinfeld and another on called The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine Both have great recipes and you and your family will never know the "extras" that are inside. This banana bread recipe in one of my favorites!!!
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
3/4 C. Whole wheat flour
½ C. All-purpose flour
½ tsp. Baking soda
1/4 tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Cinnamon (optional)
½ C. Firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 C. Vegetable oil
2 egg whites
1 ½ C. Banana puree
½ C. Cauliflower puree
1 tsp. Vanilla
Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 9x5 inch loaf pan, or 2 mini pans with cooking spray.
In a bowl mix the flours with the baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon (if using). Set aside. In a large mixing bowl mix the sugar and oil with a wooden spoon until well combined (or in a Kitchen Aid mixer) Mix in the eggs, purees, (if I don't have cauliflower I just add another 1/2 C. bananas) and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Bake until the center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes for the large loaf, 25-30 for the mini loafs. Let cool on a rack for 5 minutes, then turn bread out of the pan to cool before serving.
(Sometimes I add nuts or 1/2 c. chocolate chips, makes it even better)
Monday, April 19, 2010
It's finally warm!
We have had a few nice days lately and the kids are really enjoying playing outside. We even went to the zoo last Saturday and had a great time. (More about that later). Today I even let Parker convince me to let him play in the water. We turned on the sprinkler and he loved running all around getting himself cooled off. It didn't last for very long, about a half hour, but I get the feeling we are going to be outside quite a bit this summer and I can't wait for all the fun that comes with the good weather. So please mother nature let the nice warm weather stay for a long long time!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Paige's Birthday Celebration
My sister stopped by the day before Paige's birthday to drop off a gift because she wasn't going to be able to make it. She got her a little girls set of nail polish, lip gloss, and lip stick with a bag to put it in. She also got a cute little pink, orange and yellow dress with a yellow jacket. And a blue short romper (we both wore these when we were younger and it brought back memories) Paige loves the makeup and has been busy polishing her nails lately. Thanks Charyn!
After completing the cake I went to work getting everything else ready for Paige's party. We invited just grandparents this year. I don't think my kids need a big party every year. When they do have a party on birthdays 1, 8, and 16 I want them to be special so we won't be doing big parties every year at our house. I hadn't really thought about decorations since we weren't doing a big party, but decided at the last minute that she needed some balloons to celebrate with. I ran to the store and picked up some balloons and a few other things, and hurried back to finish last minute things. I decorated the table with the balloons and her gifts and put out a special place setting for her to eat at. She also had a little tiara to wear that said "Birthday Girl." She had fallen asleep on the way home from the store so all the decorations and balloons were a surprise when she woke up. My parents and Matt's parents made it over for dinner which consisted of Italian Chicken in the crock pot, with Strawberry Toss Salad and Fruit and Yogurt Salad as well. Paige usually devours Italian Chicken when I make it, but as she was sitting at the table she noticed some play jewelry and makeup and had to open that up and try it out. Then she wanted to open more gifts. So we all ate dinner while Paige entertained us by opening gifts. She was quite the character and made faces and noised after every gift. She even had to try on ever outfit she got as she opened them. As she would put them on she would say "ta da" and hold out her arms to show what she was wearing. She was spoiled rotten and got a bunch of fun new stuff. Grandpa and Grandma C. got her a cute little stuffed puppy, pink sand box toys,a wooden doll with interchangeable felt outfits, and a new outfit with cupcakes on it and it says "one of a kind." Grandpa and Grandma Yancey got her and new bedspread (for when she is in a big girl bed) with curtains, a strawberry shortcake doll, strawberry shortcake coloring book, 3 strawberry shortcake reading books, a strawberry shortcake book with magnets, and a crayola stamp set. Matt and I kind of went over board and got more than we were going to. I couldn't help myself in the store and kept adding to my cart. I found this cute little cat the meows when you pet it and I knew she would love that. We also got her a ZhuZhu pet, some princess dolls that you can change their clothes, new jammies, new socks, a dress, a swimsuit, 2 summer outfits, a Princess and the frog purse, the movie The Princess and the Frog, lip gloss, a play phone, new flip flops, and some pretend makeup. Ya I know it got carried away!! She had a ton of fun opening gifts and playing with each one as she opened. I don't think she really ate much of anything, even her cake, she was busy playing with her new stuff. She did love blowing out the candles and dancing in her chair as we sang Happy Birthday to her. A little while late Matt's Mom came and brought Paige a darling little pink and white dress with a pink jacket and a stuffed bunny rabbit. Little Sister had to model the dress for us! Thank you so much to all that came and spoiled our little girl. It is obvious how much she is loved!!
"Ta Da"
With Aunt Charyn
With Uncle Mike
Birthday Table
Opening Princess and the Frog
Princess and the Frog purse
Princess Dolls!
The Meowing Kitty Kat...She was really excited!
Her new Beadspread is in the big box.
Blowing out the candles!
All the stuff she got!
Her new Pink Polka Dot Dress
Grandma Linda and Little Sister
After completing the cake I went to work getting everything else ready for Paige's party. We invited just grandparents this year. I don't think my kids need a big party every year. When they do have a party on birthdays 1, 8, and 16 I want them to be special so we won't be doing big parties every year at our house. I hadn't really thought about decorations since we weren't doing a big party, but decided at the last minute that she needed some balloons to celebrate with. I ran to the store and picked up some balloons and a few other things, and hurried back to finish last minute things. I decorated the table with the balloons and her gifts and put out a special place setting for her to eat at. She also had a little tiara to wear that said "Birthday Girl." She had fallen asleep on the way home from the store so all the decorations and balloons were a surprise when she woke up. My parents and Matt's parents made it over for dinner which consisted of Italian Chicken in the crock pot, with Strawberry Toss Salad and Fruit and Yogurt Salad as well. Paige usually devours Italian Chicken when I make it, but as she was sitting at the table she noticed some play jewelry and makeup and had to open that up and try it out. Then she wanted to open more gifts. So we all ate dinner while Paige entertained us by opening gifts. She was quite the character and made faces and noised after every gift. She even had to try on ever outfit she got as she opened them. As she would put them on she would say "ta da" and hold out her arms to show what she was wearing. She was spoiled rotten and got a bunch of fun new stuff. Grandpa and Grandma C. got her a cute little stuffed puppy, pink sand box toys,a wooden doll with interchangeable felt outfits, and a new outfit with cupcakes on it and it says "one of a kind." Grandpa and Grandma Yancey got her and new bedspread (for when she is in a big girl bed) with curtains, a strawberry shortcake doll, strawberry shortcake coloring book, 3 strawberry shortcake reading books, a strawberry shortcake book with magnets, and a crayola stamp set. Matt and I kind of went over board and got more than we were going to. I couldn't help myself in the store and kept adding to my cart. I found this cute little cat the meows when you pet it and I knew she would love that. We also got her a ZhuZhu pet, some princess dolls that you can change their clothes, new jammies, new socks, a dress, a swimsuit, 2 summer outfits, a Princess and the frog purse, the movie The Princess and the Frog, lip gloss, a play phone, new flip flops, and some pretend makeup. Ya I know it got carried away!! She had a ton of fun opening gifts and playing with each one as she opened. I don't think she really ate much of anything, even her cake, she was busy playing with her new stuff. She did love blowing out the candles and dancing in her chair as we sang Happy Birthday to her. A little while late Matt's Mom came and brought Paige a darling little pink and white dress with a pink jacket and a stuffed bunny rabbit. Little Sister had to model the dress for us! Thank you so much to all that came and spoiled our little girl. It is obvious how much she is loved!!
"Ta Da"
With Aunt Charyn
With Uncle Mike
Birthday Table
Opening Princess and the Frog
Princess and the Frog purse
Princess Dolls!
The Meowing Kitty Kat...She was really excited!
Her new Beadspread is in the big box.
Blowing out the candles!
All the stuff she got!
Her new Pink Polka Dot Dress
Grandma Linda and Little Sister
Paige's Birthday Cake
We celebrated Paige's Birthday on Monday with Grandparents. Since Paige has been interested in cats lately I decided to make her a cat cake. I looked all over online and didn't really find anything that I loved. Then about a week before her birthday I got a magazine in the mail and it had ideas for different birthday parties. In those ideas was a picture and directions for a kitty cat cake. I loved it!! I knew it was meant to be. I decided to alter it a little bit because the picture was a blue cat and I wanted to make a pink one for her. After I got baking and assembling the cake I realized that the directions were not very good. The directions said to bake the cake in an oven proof bowl. But it did not say what size of bowl. I didn't think much about this until after I had baked the cake and was about to put the snowballs on for the cheeks and realized that the snowballs were huge compared to the rest of the cake. I didn't know what to do because I needed to finish the cake, but I was afraid it wouldn't work out. Well I went ahead and finished and it turned out alright. It ended up looking a little more animated than the original picture, but she loved it. Next time, if there is a next time, I would bake the cake in a bigger bowl so the face is more proportioned! Paige was excited about it and kept saying "meow, meow". I think it was a success!
Easter Outfits
My mom got both the kids new Easter outfits for Church and they both looked so darn cute in them. I even got the kids to give each other a hug! (that will be a a great picture for upcoming years when they are fighting) I just had to show off how cute they are!
She's 2!
So I am little late in getting this posted, but better late than never. Our little Paige turned 2 on Monday!! I can hardly believe that 2 years have flown by since she was born. I so remember being in the hospital with her and all that went on to get her into this world. It seems not so long ago, and yet I look at her and think wow she is getting so big and becoming a little girl and not a baby anymore. Here are a few things that love about our little girl:
1. She is pure girl, she loves jewelry, makeup, and clothes
2. She loves her mom and wants to be everywhere I am
3. She is really into Kitten and can make a "meow" noise when she sees them.
4. She is a really good eater, not very picky at all!! (I love this)
5. She almost always sleeps through the night
6. She loves chocolate
7. She is very easy going and usually goes with the flow of things.
8. She is starting to develop her own personality and it is quite entertaining
9. She loves to dance along to music!
10. She is always willing to give hugs and kisses! (love this one!!)
11. She makes the funniest faces and you can't help but smile when you look at them!
12. Most of all we love her and are so glad she is in our family.
She is getting quite a bit better at talking and adds a few words a day to her vocabulary. I still have a hard time understanding her with some things and that really frustrates her, but we do the best we can. She is loving going outside and has a problem with staying in our yard. I can't turn my back on her for 1 minute before she is headed toward the road or in the neighbors yard. This summer is going to to be a challenge I can tell! We love her anyway!! Happy 2nd Birthday Paige. Birthday pictures to come!!
1. She is pure girl, she loves jewelry, makeup, and clothes
2. She loves her mom and wants to be everywhere I am
3. She is really into Kitten and can make a "meow" noise when she sees them.
4. She is a really good eater, not very picky at all!! (I love this)
5. She almost always sleeps through the night
6. She loves chocolate
7. She is very easy going and usually goes with the flow of things.
8. She is starting to develop her own personality and it is quite entertaining
9. She loves to dance along to music!
10. She is always willing to give hugs and kisses! (love this one!!)
11. She makes the funniest faces and you can't help but smile when you look at them!
12. Most of all we love her and are so glad she is in our family.
She is getting quite a bit better at talking and adds a few words a day to her vocabulary. I still have a hard time understanding her with some things and that really frustrates her, but we do the best we can. She is loving going outside and has a problem with staying in our yard. I can't turn my back on her for 1 minute before she is headed toward the road or in the neighbors yard. This summer is going to to be a challenge I can tell! We love her anyway!! Happy 2nd Birthday Paige. Birthday pictures to come!!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Easter Fun
Warning: Seriously Long Post Ahead!
Well despite the weather we tried to spoil the kids with Easter festivities. A few days before Easter we got together with some friends (the Thornleys) and had hamburgers and hot dogs (we had to to it inside instead of outside BBQ) after we ate the kids colored eggs and we had an indoor egg hunt. Each of the kids had a specific colored eggs to collect so it was fun for them to run around and try and find "their" eggs. Each one got a few fun toys inside the eggs and come money. They were all excited.
The day of Easter happened to also be General Conference. (I love it when that happens!!) So we were all able to sleep in! Parker woke up and ventured out into the kitchen where he discovered that the Easter Bunny had been to visit. He cam running into our room and announced "The Easter Bunny came, the Easter Bunny came!" He was very excited about it. At this point Paige was awaken by all the excitement and both kids came into the kitchen to look at their baskets full of goodies. Parker's basket was filled with Spiderman stuff. He got a 2 new place mats (one of which was Handy Manny) A spiderman plate, cup, and bowl. He also got 2 spiderman books, an activity book, markers, and a spiderman toy. Along with all the toy he got a basket full of goodies. Big Brother loves Reese's Peanut Butter Cups the best. This year I also learned neither of my kids like jelly beans! In Paige's basket she got 2 place mats as well, both princess ones. She got a Princess and The Frog plate, bowl and cup. She got a Minnie Mouse coloring book, Tinkerbell stickers, Peep chapstick, sunglasses, a hair brush and a little bag with flowers on it. He favotite treat in her bag was anything chocolate. Neither one of them liked the Peeps that were in the basket. I also think that you can't have Easter without Peeps, so no matter what they will continue to be in our families baskets year after year!
After enjoying the first session of conference and the wonderful messages about our Savior and the Atonement we went to my parents for Easter Dinner. We had dad's famous steaks on the smoker along with baked potatoes,rolls, salads and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Charyn, Mike and Jackson came down as well and we had a great time together dying more eggs and playing Tripoly. The kids each received an Easter basket from the grandparents filled with more goodies (at this point I knew we had over done the treats, we will have Easter candy for a year!!!) they each also receive a new shirt/dress. Paige got this adorable green dress with polka dots on it. She was so excited about it that she insisted on putting it on right then. She looked adorable as usual and will look even cuter in it on Sunday when she is all done up. Both Parker and Jackson got a new shirt. Neither of them got too exacted about new clothing, they must be Boys!!!
After having fun at my parents we headed out to Matt's dad's house for the annual egg hunt and weenie roast at their house. Well the weather was so horrible the most of us were inside the entire time, we only went outside long enough to roast a hot dog. The older kids hid the eggs outside for the younger kids and and younger kids were able to fill their baskets to the brim. Parker grabbed a second basket after filling his first and continued to find eggs until both baskets were filled. So now for sure we will have candy for 2 years!! We got so much!!!! Grandma and Grandpa C also got the kids each anew outfit and and Movie. Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeaquel. They each got a few other things as well. Big Brother got a dart gun, a foam sword, a bouncy ball, and a crayon set. Little sister got a Barbie, a bouncy ball, a book with felt pictures, and a pink lizard. I was spoiled as well and got a new cookbook that I am eager to try out. Matt received a bag of Reese's cups, his favorite. We had a great time and enjoyed spending the holiday with family.
As I end this enormous post I just want to express my gratitude for My Savior Jesus Christ and the greatest sacrifice of all He has made for us, the Atonement. I am so grateful for the true meaning of Easter and the opportunity to be reminded of that great and wonderful day each and every year. I am so grateful to be a member of the church and have the gospel in my life and to be able to raise my children with the gospel in their lives as well. I am grateful for the living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson and the direction he give us and for the opportunity to watch conference and to be edified and uplifted from the wonderful messages shared this day. I look forward to the May Ensign and to be able to read and study those messages more closely.
Well despite the weather we tried to spoil the kids with Easter festivities. A few days before Easter we got together with some friends (the Thornleys) and had hamburgers and hot dogs (we had to to it inside instead of outside BBQ) after we ate the kids colored eggs and we had an indoor egg hunt. Each of the kids had a specific colored eggs to collect so it was fun for them to run around and try and find "their" eggs. Each one got a few fun toys inside the eggs and come money. They were all excited.
The day of Easter happened to also be General Conference. (I love it when that happens!!) So we were all able to sleep in! Parker woke up and ventured out into the kitchen where he discovered that the Easter Bunny had been to visit. He cam running into our room and announced "The Easter Bunny came, the Easter Bunny came!" He was very excited about it. At this point Paige was awaken by all the excitement and both kids came into the kitchen to look at their baskets full of goodies. Parker's basket was filled with Spiderman stuff. He got a 2 new place mats (one of which was Handy Manny) A spiderman plate, cup, and bowl. He also got 2 spiderman books, an activity book, markers, and a spiderman toy. Along with all the toy he got a basket full of goodies. Big Brother loves Reese's Peanut Butter Cups the best. This year I also learned neither of my kids like jelly beans! In Paige's basket she got 2 place mats as well, both princess ones. She got a Princess and The Frog plate, bowl and cup. She got a Minnie Mouse coloring book, Tinkerbell stickers, Peep chapstick, sunglasses, a hair brush and a little bag with flowers on it. He favotite treat in her bag was anything chocolate. Neither one of them liked the Peeps that were in the basket. I also think that you can't have Easter without Peeps, so no matter what they will continue to be in our families baskets year after year!
After enjoying the first session of conference and the wonderful messages about our Savior and the Atonement we went to my parents for Easter Dinner. We had dad's famous steaks on the smoker along with baked potatoes,rolls, salads and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Charyn, Mike and Jackson came down as well and we had a great time together dying more eggs and playing Tripoly. The kids each received an Easter basket from the grandparents filled with more goodies (at this point I knew we had over done the treats, we will have Easter candy for a year!!!) they each also receive a new shirt/dress. Paige got this adorable green dress with polka dots on it. She was so excited about it that she insisted on putting it on right then. She looked adorable as usual and will look even cuter in it on Sunday when she is all done up. Both Parker and Jackson got a new shirt. Neither of them got too exacted about new clothing, they must be Boys!!!
After having fun at my parents we headed out to Matt's dad's house for the annual egg hunt and weenie roast at their house. Well the weather was so horrible the most of us were inside the entire time, we only went outside long enough to roast a hot dog. The older kids hid the eggs outside for the younger kids and and younger kids were able to fill their baskets to the brim. Parker grabbed a second basket after filling his first and continued to find eggs until both baskets were filled. So now for sure we will have candy for 2 years!! We got so much!!!! Grandma and Grandpa C also got the kids each anew outfit and and Movie. Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeaquel. They each got a few other things as well. Big Brother got a dart gun, a foam sword, a bouncy ball, and a crayon set. Little sister got a Barbie, a bouncy ball, a book with felt pictures, and a pink lizard. I was spoiled as well and got a new cookbook that I am eager to try out. Matt received a bag of Reese's cups, his favorite. We had a great time and enjoyed spending the holiday with family.
As I end this enormous post I just want to express my gratitude for My Savior Jesus Christ and the greatest sacrifice of all He has made for us, the Atonement. I am so grateful for the true meaning of Easter and the opportunity to be reminded of that great and wonderful day each and every year. I am so grateful to be a member of the church and have the gospel in my life and to be able to raise my children with the gospel in their lives as well. I am grateful for the living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson and the direction he give us and for the opportunity to watch conference and to be edified and uplifted from the wonderful messages shared this day. I look forward to the May Ensign and to be able to read and study those messages more closely.
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